Huffman Prairie Ride( April 13,2019)

On a nice day in Dayton took a roughly 30 mile ride in the morning to Huffman Prairie. After Kitty Hawk, the Wright Brothers went to this field to perfect their invention. They went from the Wright Flyer (though a new version the first plane having been destroyed after they flew it) to the Wright Flyer III. It was also home to one of the first flying schools, and the test area for their Model B aircraft.

These are recreations of the original structures. The building at left was the Hangar. Read that they had to partially dissemble the aircraft and put it in sideways. The catapult was used to launch the planes. Lacking the winds of Kitty Hawk, the catapult took them to flying speed.
First flights with the 1904 Flier started on May 23, 1904. While that plane was better, it was the Wright Flyer III which made long flights possible. In fact that aircraft is on display at Carillon Park in Dayton and is considered the first practical aircraft.
It was a fun visit to this historical area and in fact a very fun motorcycle ride. Traffic was light before noon and the ride was trouble free. 

Bike Wash Ride (April 11, 2019)

On a beautiful Thursday and the warmest day so far this year, took some time to wash and wax the Triumph. It has been a long hard winter and with Spring here, time to clean off the motorcycle.
I washed it and then took it for a short ride to blow the water off of it. It has always been the best way for me to dry off a motorcycle as it both cleans off the bike water and blows the cobwebs out of my head.
For this ride did just under 20 miles. Got out on "The National Road aka US 40 and made a stop by this old school building there. It was a wonderful day to get out and I enjoyed the cruise around the area. Got back and got some chrome polish and wax on my machine!

The Lost Ride (April 9, 2019)

 Interesting ride on a beautiful Tuesday in Ohio. Needed to make a stop at the bank, so got on the motorcycle and headed there. On the way stopped at the New Carlisle Airport and got this photo of my motorcycle and this Cessna there. It is non flying and on display.
From there, decided to get a short ride in before getting home and tackling the shed painting project (which went well but that is another story).
I rode down Highway 41, which was how I got back from Troy, Ohio the other day. This time though I went toward the other direction, Surprisingly I had been there before. This photo at bottom was where I had been on a previous ride before moving here. We rode a pair of Suzuki motorcycles back then.

Always liked trains so was good to see this again. Anyhow ended up in Springfield...and after that got lost. Went up Highway 68 and managed to ride past Yellow Springs (which looks really cool), Old Chilicothe (ditto) and Xenia (ditto again). First time at all three places. Ride was longer than my usual of late coming in at 61 miles. Enjoyed seeing the new sites and looking forward to future rides there.
The more I ride around here, the most interesting it is becoming. This is a fun and interesting area and I have been having a great time the past few days exploring the area around my new home. 

City Ride (April 6, 2019)

Posted a ride blog on my "Ohio and Me" blog page. By mistake but whatever. Have been enjoying two good days of riding thanks to a real big dose of Spring here in the Ohio area. Yesterday I took a ride out in the country and today's ride took me to Dayton. Had never been there on the motorcycle (though had in the car) so this was a first.
This was at Woodland Cemetery. The grave is the Wright family grave. At the bottom left to right are the graves of Wilbur, Katherine and Orville Wright. Also buried there are his father and mother. Fun to see the graves of the World's first pilots and the creators of the airplane. 

Seen from Woodland Cemetery is Dayton, Ohio. Said to be one of the best views of the city from that point this is a sight of one of the things I plan to explore over the next few years.
Woodland is interesting though. In addition to the Wright family, the author (and friend of the Wrights) Paul Dunbar, Erma Bombeck and others are buried there. There is also a nice area of soldiers (Union after so many years of being in the South and seeing Confederate graves) from the Civil War.
Woodland is a very historical and interesting place to visit. 

I did take a short ride around Dayton. Passed the University of Dayton, rolled down some very interesting streets and also rolled into the Oregon District. It is the entertainment district of Dayton and has been fixed up by the various business owners. Will in the future be some places there to check out too.
So all in all was a very good ride. Unlike the previous days ride rode up Highway 4 to Dayton. While not the pot holed mess of many roads here was not as smooth as the roads headed to Troy from yesterdays ride. Very bumpy but was manageable.
Ohio passed a increase in the gas tax to improve the roads a few days ago. While not a tax fan, in this case and if it does some good I am all for it.
At any case, home safe and sound after a very fun ride. Looking forward to the next one.   

Late Winter Ride (March 13, 2019)

 Finally. Today the temperature rose to 70 degrees, rains have washed the salt off the roads the past few days and while out in the car noticed all the motorcycles out. Thought it was a great day to join them. So, after checking the bike out for such things as chain slack, oil level, tire pressure and other items got out and got a few miles in for the first time in a long time.
It was fun as while at a red light across from the Air Force Base watched a C-17 take off. Did not see that in Richmond, VA. Rode awhile around Fairborn and then made a stop at this Trailer Park for a photo of the bike by the propeller.

After a short city ride out to the country I went. Made a stop at George Rogers Clark Park. It was the site of an Indian battle with forces lead by General Clark back around the Revolutionary War Period. Nice place which I have been to before in the car with my wife.
All in all was just a wonderful day to be out. Temperature was perfect, skies were blue and the whole ride had me grinning from ear to ear. The motorcycle performed perfectly.
The ride was just one hour as I had been doing some car maintenance earlier but sure had a wonderful time out in the wind and exploring Ohio. 

February Update (February 20, 2019)

 Its been an ok winter as far as winter goes. Snow wise I think last year we got larger amounts in Richmond, Virginia than we have had this year here in the Dayton, Ohio area. I should not cheer too much as it is not quite over yet. The roads are heavily coated with salt. Have to make sure I keep the car washed as that really eats metal. So have not been out since like the first week of January. I have been to the Air Force Museum in Dayton a few times and that is where I took this photo of this Orange County Chopper motorcycle on display there. During the cold weather, it is a place to be.

 

Main reason not to ride beside the salty roads are common scenes like this. While it has not been great amounts of snow, it has been pretty common. Of note also has been the cold. Being from the South the last couple of decades the cold here makes riding difficult. While you would see people riding in winter in Virginia and especially in North Carolina as the winters there tend to be pretty moderate, here you only rarely see people riding in these temperatures and especially under these conditions.
Good news though is that spring is not far away and the riding season will be not far behind.

I have started the motorcycle a few times and have moved it a bit during the past few weeks. I even have during winter got in a couple of rides. Breaks in weather allowed me to ride to Dayton and out in the county a couple of times and noted in earlier blog posts.
Will not be long till I get out and can get a few miles in. I am looking forward to getting my knees in the breeze real soon. To be honest, I sure miss that!  

Saint Paris Ride (January 8, 2019)

 Last rode Sunday, and it was nice with temps in the upper 40's. After a rainy Monday, got out on the motorcycle again but this time enjoyed 60 degrees. Here in the Dayton area I am told you don't get weather like this often this time of year. Can testify to that for as I write this the day after it is currently 28 with snow flurries! At any case, went by the Ohio BMV and got Ohio license plates for the motorcycle. After that took a ride to Saint Paris, Ohio. Ride was down a straight road out of New Carlisle, Ohio just to see what was there. Finally came across a four way stop with two businesses and turned back toward home. 

Even though a straight road, was nice as there were a number of farms along the road. This area grows a lot of corn and the fields are much bigger than what I used to see in Virginia. Right now they are ready to plant in a few weeks (or months, not much of a farmer). Road back into New Carlisle where I took the photo at left. From there headed back to the house and then put the new license plate on the motorcycle.
It was a very windy ride, the breeze here is another change from Virginia. High winds are common at least in winter and last longer here. Ride was a lot of fun, covered 39 miles on this time out.